Tuesday, April 30, 2013

The Federal Trade Commission is proposing changes to its Textile Labeling Rules, which require that certain textiles sold in the United States carry labels disclosing the generic names and percentages by weight of the fibers in the product, the manufacturer or marketer name, and the country where the product was processed or manufactured. The Rules implement the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act.

Georgia Foreign-Trade Zone, Inc. has submitted a notification of proposed production activity to the FTZ Board on behalf of PBR, Inc. d/b/a SKAPS Industries (SKAPS), located in Athens, Georgia.

The SKAP facilities are located at 325, 330, and 335 Athena Drive in Athens (Clarke County), Georgia. The facilities are used for the production of non-woven geotextile fabric using polypropylene fiber. FTZ activity would be limited to the specific foreign-status materials and components and specific finished products described in the submitted notification (as described below) and subsequently authorized by the FTZ Board.

Production under FTZ procedures could exempt SKAPS from customs duty payments on the foreign status polypropylene fiber used in export production. On its domestic sales, SKAPS would be able to choose the duty rate during customs entry procedures that applies to geotextile fabric (free) for the foreign status polypropylene fiber (4.3%). Customs duties also could possibly be deferred or reduced on foreign status production equipment.

Public comment is invited from interested parties. The closing period for their receipt is June 10, 2013.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

The Congressional Research Service has released a report "U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Trade Facilitation, Enforcement, and Security" pointing out weakeness in Customs enforcement of anti-terror security measures as well as interdiction of other contraband.

According to the report, "How effectively CBP has performed its import policy mission is a matter of some debate. Some participants in CBP’s 'trusted trader' programs argue that the concessions CBP provides at the border do not adequately justify the effort and expense participants undergo to certify their supply chains with CBP. Questions have also been raised about CBP’s management of trade facilitation. Some critics also assert that CBP has not adequately fulfilled its trade enforcement role, especially its duties for preventing illegal transshipments, protecting U.S. intellectual property rights, and collecting duties. Still others criticize CBP’s performance of its security functions, especially because it does not yet physically scan 100% of maritime cargo as mandated by the SAFE Port Act of 2006, as amended."
The full report is available by clicking here.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Hazard: The vest sold with these sets has a belt at the waist that could become snagged or caught in small spaces or vehicle doors and it poses an entanglement hazard. In February 1996, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ("CPSC") issued guidelines about drawstrings in children's upper outerwear. In 1997, those guidelines were incorporated into a voluntary standard. Then, in July 2011, based on the guidelines and voluntary standard, CPSC issued a federal regulation. CPSC's actions demonstrate a commitment to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on neck and waist drawstrings in upper outerwear, such as jackets and sweatshirts.

Remedy: Repair, Refund

Consumer Contact: Children's Apparel Network at (800) 919-1917 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at www.childrensapparelnetwork.com and click on "PRESS."

Description: This recall involves girl's "Young Hearts" brand three-piece clothing sets. The sets were sold with a pink vest, black pullover shirt and knit pants in sizes 12 months to 6X. "Young Hearts" is printed on a label inside the shirt collar. The pink vest has a black bow applique on the left front and a pink elastic belt with silver clasps.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the belt from the vest to eliminate the hazard, or return the set to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Sold at: Conway, Citi Trends, Duckwall-Alco and other children's apparel stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com from September 2012 to December 2012 for about $40.

Yesterday the Obama Administration notified Congress of its intent to include Japan in the Trans-Pacific Partnership ("TPP") Agreement negotiations. This notification follows an announcement on April 12, 2013 that the United States and Japan had completed bilateral TPP consultations, as well as an announcement by TPP countries on April 21, 2013 that they welcome Japan as a new participant in the TPP negotiations, pending the successful completion of domestic procedures by each TPP country. Today’s notification triggers a 90-day consultation period with Congress and the public on U.S. negotiating objectives with respect to Japan.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

On Wednesday, May 29, 2013, Under Secretary for International Trade Francisco Sánchez will co-host a workshop with Mexico’s Under Secretary of Foreign Trade Francisco de Rosenzweig, Mexico’s Servicio de Administración Tributaria ("SAT") and Secretaría de Economía on SAT’s new, streamlined procedures for verification of origin audits under the North American Free Trade Agreement ("NAFTA"). The workshop will take place in Mexico City on May 29th (time and location to be announced). Details on the time, location and registration will be made available soon. Please contact Laurie Mease (Laurie.Mease@trade.gov) or Richard Stetson (Richard.Stetson@trade.gov)
at 202-482-3400 with any questions.

Current rules allow companies that require products from overseas to obtain tariff relief. Congress has regularly passed a Miscellaneous Tariff Bill ("MTB") consisting of hundreds of tariff reductions for such products. In order to have a tariff reduction provision included in the MTB companies must first find a member of Congress to sponsor the provision. Only when a provision has been introduced as a stand-alone bill can it be sent to the International Trade Commission ("ITC"). The ITC then reviews all provisions, and often finds that some of these un-vetted bills actually hurt U.S. manufacturers. The provisions that meet standards are bundled into a package that becomes the MTB.

Portman and McCaskill’s legislation is intended to streamline the process for duty-suspensions by allowing companies to submit their proposals directly to the ITC. Once the ITC reviews and accepts the proposal, it will be sent to Congress for final approval. The bill authorizes the new process to be used for three rounds (2013, 2015, and 2018). While it requires a comprehensive review by the ITC of all possible eligible items in 2015 and 2018, an exception is included for the 2013 round so that it can be completed under a truncated timeline.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Surabaya, Indonesia - The trade ministers of the 11 Trans-Pacific Partnership ("TPP") countries -- which include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States, and Vietnam -- met on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ("APEC") meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade to chart a path forward on the remaining issues that will enable them to conclude the negotiations on a 2013 timeframe as instructed by TPP Leaders. They also discussed the status of their discussions with Japan on its interest in joining the TPP.

As the negotiating teams prepare for the next round in Lima, Peru, set for May 15-24, ministers agreed on next steps to advance the TPP talks in a range of areas. They directed negotiators to complete their work on some chapters and to accelerate progress on more challenging issues that remain including intellectual property, competition/state-owned enterprises, and environment, as well as on the market access packages for goods, services/investment, and government procurement. Ministers committed to intensifying their own engagement over the coming months to work out solutions to outstanding sensitive issues and to achieve the TPP Leaders’ objective of a high-quality, ambitious, and comprehensive agreement this year.

Ministers also confirmed that each TPP member has concluded bilateral consultations with Japan regarding Japan’s interest in joining the TPP. Today, Ministers agreed by consensus to finalize with Japan the process for entry in a manner that allows the negotiations to continue expeditiously toward conclusion – as was done with other members that joined the negotiations in progress. Japan can then join the TPP negotiations upon completion of current members’ respective domestic processes.

With Japan’s entry, TPP countries would account for nearly 40 percent of global GDP and about one-third of all world trade. TPP Ministers noted that Japan’s participation in the negotiation will underscore the economic significance of TPP and its promise as a pathway toward a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Classic Characters Recalls Infant Socks Due to Choking Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

Name of Product: Infant Froggy Socks

Units: About 5,000 pairs

Hazard: The stitched knit frog face and feet on the socks can detach, posing a choking hazard to infants and young children.

Description: The knit ankle infant socks have a red ankle border with a lime green sock that has four fabric feet and a dark green frog head with black and white eyes and a red tongue stitched to the top of the toe of the socks. The socks were sold with a Cracker Barrel price tag printed with SKU number 417662, S110, size 6-18M, fiber content and care instructions on the back of the tag.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Sold exclusively at: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store(r) locations from January 2013 to March 2013 for about $7.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled froggy socks away from infants and young children, return the socks to any Cracker Barrel Old Country Store for a full refund or send the socks to Classic Characters for a full refund plus shipping. Send to Classic Characters, 1320 Route 9, Champlain, N.Y. 12919 via UPS ground or US Postal Service.

Infant and Children's Dungarees Recalled by J.P. Boden Due to Choking Hazard

Name of Product: Mini Boden Chunky Cord Dungarees

Units; About 1,900

Hazard: The studs and clasps on the pants can detach, posing a choking hazard to infants and small children.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the pants away from children and contact J.P. Boden to receive a postage paid envelope for returning the pants to get a refund.

Description: The recalled overall corduroy dungaree pants were sold in light brown and red in sizes 0-24 months and 2Y through 4Y. There are two snaps on each side of the overalls, side pockets and a center pocket with a sewn-in black and white tab label. There is a label on the back of the waist of the dungarees with item number 72092. The label inside the back strap of the dungarees reads "Baby Boden" and the buttons read "Mini Boden." Pants shipped directly to consumers came in a bag labeled "Mini Boden."

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Sold at: Nordstrom stores, online at Bodenusa.com and through the Boden catalog from July 2012 through March 2013 for about $40.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

The U.S. International Trade Commission ("U.S.I.T.C.") is seeking input for newly initiated investigations into the probable economic effect of duty-free imports under a United States-European Union ("U.S.-E.U.") Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement.

The investigations, U.S.-E.U. Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement: Advice on the Probable Economic Effect of Providing Duty-Free Treatment for Imports, were requested by the Acting United States Trade Representative ("U.S.T.R.") in a letter received on March 26, 2013.

As requested, the USITC will advise the President as to the probable economic effect of providing duty-free treatment for imports of products from all of the European Union ("E.U.") member states on industries in the United States producing like or directly competitive articles and on consumers. In preparing its advice, the U.S.I.T.C. will consider each article in chapters 1 through 97 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States for which tariffs will remain, taking into account implementation of U.S. commitments in the World Trade Organization. The advice will be based on the 2013 Harmonized Tariff Schedule nomenclature and trade data for the year 2012. The advice will assume that any known U.S. non-tariff barrier will not be applicable to such imports, and the U.S.I.T.C. will note in its report any instance in which the continued application of a U.S. non-tariff barrier would result in different advice with respect to the effect of the removal of the duty.

In addition, as requested, the U.S.I.T.C. will prepare an assessment of the probable economic effect of eliminating tariffs on imports from all of the E.U. member states of certain agricultural products on U.S. industries producing the product concerned and the U.S. economy as a whole. A list of the products is attached to the U.S.T.R.'s request letter.

The U.S.I.T.C. expects to submit its report, which will be confidential, to the U.S.T.R. by September 26, 2013.

The U.S.I.T.C. is seeking input for these investigations from all interested parties and requests that the information focus on the issues for which the U.S.I.T.C. is requested to provide information and advice.

The U.S.I.T.C. will hold a public hearing in connection with the investigations on June 5, 2013. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on May 16, 2013, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20436. For further information, call 202-205-2000.

The U.S.I.T.C. also welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission at the above address and should be submitted at the earliest practical date but no later than 5:15 p.m. on June 18, 2013. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.

Golden Manufacturing Company, Inc., Golden, Miss., has been awarded a maximum $55,349,415 contract for various types of Permethrin Army Combat Uniform coats. The award is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Location of performance is Mississippi with an April 16, 2014 performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2013 through fiscal year 2014 Defense Working Capital Funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

AFI, LLC Camuy, Puerto Rico, has been awarded a maximum $43,337,008 contract for various types of Permethrin Army Combat Uniform trousers. The award is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Location of performance is Puerto Rico with an April 16, 2014 performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2013 through fiscal year 2014 Defense Working Capital Funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

Hazard: A defective wire connector can cause the jacket liner to overheat, posing a burn hazard to consumers.

Description: This recall involves Gerbings and Harley-Davidson(r) black nylon, 12-volt, heated jacket liners. The jacket liners heat up when plugged into a vehicle, such as a motorcycle or snowmobile. "Gerbing's Heated Clothing" or "Harley Davidson(r)" is printed on the front left chest of the jacket liners. The Gerbing's jacket liners have model number JKLN and PO# 3796 and Harley-Davidson(r) jackets have model number 98324-09VM and GM32873, GM32874, GM34188, GM34189, GM34190 or GM34191. The model number, PO number and "Use only 12 Volts" are printed on a label sewn inside next to the jacket liner's front zipper.

Incidents/Injuries: Gerbings has received two reports of the jacket liners overheating, causing minor dime-sized burns to consumers' backs, resulting in blisters.

Sold at: Harley-Davidson(r) dealerships, Eagle Leather and other sporting goods, retail stores and motorcycle shops nationwide from April 2011 through December 2012 for between $200 and $240.

Importer: Gerbings, LLC, of Stoneville, N.C.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the jacket liners and contact Gerbings, LLC for a free repair or replacement liner.

Consumer Contact: Gerbings LLC; toll-free at (877) 242-5595 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET, Harley-Davidson(r) at (800) 258-2464 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or online at www.gerbing.com and click on the Recalls & Warnings link for more information.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Carter Industries Inc., Olive Hill, Ky., has been awarded a maximum $12,441,600 modification exercising the second option year for sage green, flyer's coveralls. The modification is a firm-fixed-price contract. Location of performance is Kentucky with an April 15, 2014, performance completion date. Using military services are Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2014 Defense Working Capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

A garment manufacturer is seeking Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement ("DR-CAFTA") compliant fabric as described below. If you are interested in supplying and can do so with a fabric that satisfies the DR-CAFTA rules of origin, contact me at david@agathonassociates.com and I'll put you in touch with the inquirer.

The Manufacturing Council will hold its first meeting of the newly appointed members to discuss and identify the priority issues affecting the U.S. manufacturing industry on April 30, 2013, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will be an organizational meeting to discuss priorities that will be addressed in future meetings. The Council was re-chartered on April 5, 2012, to advise the Secretary of Commerce on government programs and policies that affect U.S. manufacturing and provide a means of ensuring regular contact between the U.S. Government and the manufacturing sector.

BACKGROUND

The Manufacturing Council was created in June 2004 to ensure regular communication between the Federal Government and the manufacturing sector, as well as to foster collaboration across all U.S. industry sectors to promote new ideas for continuously improving manufacturing competitiveness.

The Manufacturing Council is comprised of up to 15 private-sector executives who reflect a balance of U.S. manufacturing industry sectors, geographic locations, and business size. The Council advises the Secretary of Commerce on government policies and programs that affect U.S. manufacturing and provides a forum for proposing solutions to industry-related problems. The Council also works to ensure that the U.S. remains the preeminent destination for investment in manufacturing throughout the world.

The Council’s work concentrates on enhancing the government’s focus on manufacturing competitiveness, creating the favorable conditions for economic growth and manufacturing investment, lowering the cost of manufacturing in the U.S., investing in innovation, strengthening education, retraining, and economic diversification, and promoting open markets and a level playing field.

The Manufacturing Council meets quarterly.

David Hastings of Mount Vernon Mills is the textile representative on the Council and was appointed in 2010. Daniel Harding Stowe, President and Chief Executive Officer, R.L. Stowe Mills, Inc. had been a member of the Council since June 2004

Today, Acting U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis announced that the United States has completed its bilateral consultations with Japan regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership ("TPP"), saying:

“Since November 2011, the United States has been engaged in consultations with Japan focused on Japan’s readiness to meet the TPP's high standards for liberalizing trade and investment, and to address specific bilateral issues of concern in the automotive and insurance sectors, as well as other Japanese non-tariff measures.

“The United States and Japan have successfully completed these consultations by concluding a robust package of actions and agreements with Japan in the automotive and insurance sectors, as well as other non-tariff measures. As a result, we are pleased to welcome Japan’s participation in the TPP negotiations pending a consensus agreement among the current TPP members and the completion of our respective domestic processes. Japan’s entry into this important initiative for the Asia-Pacific region will help it to deliver significant economic benefits to the United States, Japan and the Asia-Pacific region."

Thursday, April 11, 2013

The United States International Trade Commission ("U.S.I.T.C.")has announced an opening for General Counsel. The incumbent of this position serves as the top-ranking legal officer and is responsible for providing legal advice and guidance to the U.S.I.T.C and its staff. For more information, or to apply, see the notice on the U.S.I.T.C. website at https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/341087500.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative ("U.S.T.R.") today announced that "The United States and Guatemala have agreed to an ambitious and comprehensive enforcement plan that includes significant, concrete actions that the Guatemalan government will implement within specified time frames to improve enforcement of labor laws." A list of key actions contained in the plan is available on the U.S.T.R. website at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/fact-sheets/2013/april/guatemala-labor-enforcement

BACKGROUND

On April 23, 2008, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations ("AFL-CIO") and six Guatemalan unions filed a petition, the first of its kind, under the labor provisions of the United States-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement ("DR-CAFTA") with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Trade & Labor Affairs. On July 30, 2010, the U.S. Labor Department announced the United States would request consultations with Guatemala’s government under the labor chapter of the DR-CAFTA. It was the first such action by any U.S. administration against a trading partner.

The 2014 edition of Techtextil North America is now accepting papers for the highly acclaimed Techtextil North America Symposium being held May 13 -15, 2014, Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta, Georgia USA.

Papers are especially solicited in the following areas:

Extreme fibers and fabrics for special applications

Composites – involving high performance fibers/fabrics

New innovation/developments in protective textiles

Technical textiles in sports and outdoor

Automotive and aerospace applications

Smart/intelligent nonwovens and other materials

Nanotechnology in technical textiles – potential and real world applications

All abstract must include: the name, company or other affiliation, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address and mailing address of the speaker and/or the person to whom correspondence about the abstract should be directed. Only one speaker per presentation will be allowed, though co-authors may be listed. The speaker for the paper should be underlined and (the speaker only) will receive a complimentary conference/event registration. Authors will only be notified if their papers are accepted by September 15, 2013.

Authors of accepted papers will be required to provide a full paper and/or presentation by April 1, 2014. Authors are responsible for securing any necessary copyright or other clearance for all abstracts, papers and other materials submitted.

All presentations should be planned to run approximately 20 minutes plus 10 minutes for questions.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Consumers should stop using this product, which is being recalled voluntarily, unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Recall Summary
Name of product: "Aubree's" and "Hearts" baby socks

Hazard: The flowers and the bows on the baby socks can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
Remedy: Refund
Consumer Contact: Trumpette Inc.; toll-free at (877) 938-7265, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or online at www.trumpette.com and click on Recall for more information.

Recall Details
Units: About 33,000 pair
Description: This recall involves "Aubree's" and "Hearts" baby socks sold in sizes 0 to 12 months. "Aubree's" socks have flowers attached to the toes. "Hearts" socks have bows attached to the toes of the heart-patterned socks. "TRUMPETTE" is printed on the soles. They were sold in packages of six pairs of socks in multiple colors.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received eight reports of the flowers or bows detaching from the socks. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled socks away from babies and remove the flowers or bows to eliminate the hazard, or return the socks to the place of purchase or Trumpette for a full refund or store credit.
Sold at: Buy Buy Baby, Right Start and Trumpette stores nationwide and online at buybuybaby.com, rightstart.com and trumpette.com from December 2012 and February 2013 for about $15.
Importer: Trumpette Inc., of Sacramento, Calif.
Manufacturer: Asia Socks, of China
Manufactured in: China

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ("CPSC") is inviting stakeholders and other interested persons to attend a free, one-day public meeting, titled, "Upholstered Furniture Fire Safety Technology Meeting." This meeting will focus on technologies and anticipated progress on future fire barrier technologies and other options to reduce the fire hazard posed by residential upholstered furniture. The meeting will be held April 25, 2013, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the CPSC National Product Testing and Evaluation Center, 5 Research Place, Rockville, Maryland 20850. For more information, please see http://www.cpsc.gov/meetingsignup and click the link for the Upholstered Furniture Fire Safety Technology Meeting.

On April 16, 2013, Rohit Khanna, Fire Program Area Team Leader, Directorate for Engineering Sciences, Consumer Product Safety Commission ("CPSC") and Treye Thomas, Chemical Program Area Team Leader, Directorate for Health Sciences, CPSC, will be attending the Furniture Flammability/Human Health Summit held by Underwriters Laboratories, partnering with the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the United States Fire Administration to provide staff presentations on Regulatory Review of Furniture Flammability and Exposure Assessment Approaches for Flame Retardant Chemical in Upholstered Furniture and Mattresses. The meeting is being held at 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center, 800 Spring Street, N.W., Atlanta, Georgoa 30308. For additional information contact Rohit Khanna, (301) 987-2508 or Treye Thomas, (301) 987-2560.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Wolverine World Wide Inc., Rockford, Mich., has been awarded a maximum $14,807,178 modification exercising the second option year contract for Navy certified safety boots. The modification is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Location of performance is Michigan with an April 5, 2013 performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2014 Defense Working Capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., SPM1C1-11-D-1045/P00005.

Monday, April 8, 2013

The U.S. Department of Commerce Foreign Trade Zone Boards has announced that the Greater Mississippi Foreign-Trade Zone, Inc. has submitted notifications of proposed production activity on behalf of Bauhaus USA, Inc. ("Bauhaus"), H.M. Richards, Inc. ("HMRI"), and Lane Furniture Industries, Inc. ("Lane"), located in Belden, Guntown, Saltillo, and Verona, Mississippi.

The Bauhaus facility is located within Site 16 of FTZ 158 and currently has authority to conduct cut-and-sew activity using certain foreign micro-denier suede upholstery fabrics to produce upholstered furniture and related parts (upholstery cover sets) on a restricted basis (see, Board Order 1600, 74 FR 262-263, 1-5-2009). Board Order 1600 authorized the production of upholstered furniture (sofa, chairs, and recliners) for a five-year period, with a scope of authority that only provides FTZ savings on a limited quantity (3.5 million square yards/year) of foreign origin, micro-denier suede upholstery fabric finished with a hot caustic soda solution process. All foreign upholstery fabric other than micro-denier suede fabric used in Bauhaus' production within FTZ 158 is subject to full customs duties.

The HMRI facility is located within Site 15 of FTZ 158 and currently has authority to conduct cut-and-sew activity using certain foreign micro-denier suede upholstery fabrics to produce upholstered furniture and related parts (upholstery cover sets) on a restricted basis (see, Board Order 1599, 74 FR 263, 1-5-2009). Board Order 1599 authorized the production of upholstered furniture (sofa, chairs, and recliners) for a five-year period, with a scope of authority that only provides FTZ savings on a limited quantity (3.6 million square yards/year) of foreign origin, micro-denier suede upholstery fabric finished with a hot caustic soda solution process. All foreign upholstery fabric other than micro-denier suede fabric used in HMRI's production within FTZ 158 is subject to full customs duties.

The Lane facilities are located within Sites 14, 16, and 17 of FTZ 158 and currently have authority to conduct cut-and-sew activity using certain foreign micro-denier suede upholstery fabrics to produce upholstered furniture and related parts (upholstery cover sets) on a restricted basis (see, Board Order 1598, 74 FR 263, 1-5-2009). Board Order 1598 authorized the production of upholstered furniture (sofa, chairs, and recliners) for a five-year period, with a scope of authority that only provides FTZ savings on a limited quantity (6.5 million square yards/year) of foreign origin, micro-denier suede upholstery fabric finished with a hot caustic soda solution process. All foreign upholstery fabric other than micro-denier suede fabric used in Lane's production within FTZ 158 is subject to full customs duties.

The current requests seek to extend the companies' current FTZ authority indefinitely.

The proposed scope of authority under FTZ procedures would only involve micro-denier suede upholstery fabrics finished with a hot caustic soda solution process, as detailed in the notification (duty rate ranges from 2.7 to 17.2%). All other material inputs used in the production activity would be in domestic (duty paid) status.

Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions shall be addressed to the FTZ Board's Executive Secretary and received by May 20, 2013.

Friday, April 5, 2013

The U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Textiles and Apparel ("OTEXA") has launched a Made in the U.S.A. Sourcing Database! The purpose of this database is to list U.S.A manufacturers, suppliers, and contractors. This self-registered and searchable database is available to the public through OTEXA’s website at http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/MadeInUSA.htm and can be a useful tool for those seeking to locate/source Made-in-U.S.A. textiles, apparel and footwear products.

A quick look at the online database of U.S. manufacturers reveals that many U.S. companies have not yet taken advantage of this free listing service through the U.S. government.

Monday, April 1, 2013

On March 20, 2013, the United States Trade Representative ("USTR") notified Congress of the Administration's intention to enter into negotiations for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership ("TTIP") agreement with the European Union ("EU") aimed at achieving a substantial increase in transatlantic trade and investment. Before initiating such negotiations, the Trade Act of 1974 requires that, with respect to any proposed trade agreement, any interested persons be afforded an opportunity to present his or her view regarding any matters related to the proposed trade agreement. Accordingly, USTR is seeking public comments on the proposed TTIP, including regarding U.S. interests and priorities, in order to develop U.S. negotiating positions. Comments may be provided in writing and orally at a public hearing.

DATES: Written comments are due by midnight, May 10, 2013. Persons wishing to testify orally at the hearing must provide written notification of their intention, as well as a summary of their testimony, by midnight, May 10, 2013. The hearing will be held on May 29 and 30 beginning at 9:30 a.m., at the main hearing room of the United States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436.

ADDRESSES: Public comments should be submitted electronically at www.regulations.gov. If you are unable to provide submissions at www.regulations.gov, please contact Yvonne Jamison, Trade Policy Staff Committee ("TPSC"), at (202) 395-3475, to arrange for an alternative method of transmission.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural questions concerning written comments, please contact Yvonne Jamison at the above number. All other questions regarding the TTIP agreement should be directed to David Weiner, Deputy Assistant USTR for Europe, at (202) 395-9679.

Written Comments: The TPSC Chair invites interested parties to submit written comments to assist USTR as it works with other U.S. government agencies and continues to consult with Congress to develop U.S. negotiating objectives and proposals for the proposed TTIP agreement. Comments may address the reduction or elimination of tariffs or non-tariff barriers on any articles provided for in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States ("HTSUS") that are products of the EU, any concession that should be sought by the United States, or any other matter relevant to the proposed agreement. The TPSC Chair invites comments on all of these matters and, in particular, seeks comments regarding:

(a) General and product-specific negotiating objectives for the proposed agreement;

(b) economic costs and benefits to U.S. producers and consumers of removal of tariffs and removal or reduction in non-tariff barriers on articles traded with the EU;

(c) treatment of specific goods (described by HTSUS numbers) under the proposed agreement, including comments on--

(1) product-specific import or export interests or barriers,

(2) experience with particular measures that should be addressed in the negotiations, and

(3) approach to tariff negotiations, including recommended staging and ways to address export priorities and import sensitivities in the context of the proposed agreement;

(d) adequacy of existing customs measures to ensure that duty rates under an agreement with the EU apply only to goods eligible to receive such treatment, and appropriate rules of origin for goods entering the United States under the proposed agreement;

(e) existing sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade that should be addressed in the negotiations;

(f) opportunities for greater transatlantic regulatory compatibility, including concrete ideas on how greater compatibility could be achieved in a particular economic sector, without diminishing the ability of the United States to continue to meet legitimate regulatory objectives, for example with respect to health, safety and the environment, and which sectors should be the focus of such efforts;

(g) opportunities to reduce unnecessary costs and administrative delays stemming from regulatory differences, including how that could be achieved in a particular economic sector;

(h) opportunities to enhance customs cooperation between the United States and the EU and its member states, ensure transparent, efficient, and predictable conduct of customs operations, and ensure that customs measures are not applied in a manner that creates unwarranted procedural obstacles to trade;

(i) existing barriers to trade in services between the United States and the EU that should be addressed in the negotiations;

(j) relevant electronic commerce and cross-border data flow issues that should be addressed in the negotiations;

(k) relevant investment issues that should be addressed in the negotiations;

(l) relevant competition-related matters that should be addressed in the negotiations;

(m) relevant government procurement issues, including coverage of any government agencies or state-owned enterprises engaged in procurements of interest, that should be addressed in the negotiations;

(n) relevant environmental issues that should be addressed in the negotiations;

(o) relevant labor issues that should be addressed in the negotiations;

(p) relevant transparency and anticorruption issues that should be addressed in the negotiations; and

(q) relevant trade-related intellectual property rights issues that should be raised with the EU.

In addition to the matters described above, the TPSC invites comments on new principles or disciplines addressing emerging challenges in international trade that should be pursued in the negotiations and that would benefit U.S.-EU trade as well as strengthen the multilateral rules-based trading system and support other trade-related priorities, including, for example, with respect to state-owned enterprises, ``localization'' barriers to trade, and other developments on which the United States and the EU may share similar concerns.

At a later date, USTR, through the TPSC, will publish notice of reviews regarding (a) the possible environmental effects of the proposed agreement and the scope of the U.S. environmental review of the proposed agreement, and (b) the impact of the proposed agreement on U.S. employment and labor markets.

Oral Testimony: A hearing will be held on May 29 and May 30 in the Main Hearing Room at the U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E St. SW., Washington, DC 20436. Persons wishing to testify at the hearing must provide written notification of their intention by May 10, 2013. The intent to testify notification must be made in the ``Type Comment'' field under docket number USTR-2013-0019 on the regulations.gov Web site and should include the name, address and telephone number of the person presenting the testimony. A summary of the testimony must accompany the notification. Remarks at the hearing should be limited to no more than five minutes to allow for possible questions from the TPSC.

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